Hamburg features a temperate oceanic climate with mild to warm summers and cool, damp winters. The city experiences four distinct seasons, moderate rainfall throughout the year, and frequent clouds and brisk winds. Seasonal changes bring significant shifts in daylight, temperature, and humidity, making Hamburg a dynamic destination for travellers in any season.
The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.
Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.
Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.
Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.
Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.
Hamburg’s climate is strongly influenced by its proximity to the North Sea and the river Elbe, resulting in a sub-oceanic, maritime atmosphere. Winters (December–February) are cool and damp, with average highs of 3–5°C and lows around –1 to 1°C. Snow is rare and usually light, but frost and fog are common, and strong westerly winds can make the cold feel sharper. Winter days are short, with only 1–2 hours of sunshine and about 8 hours of daylight in December and January. Rainfall is moderate and steady, with 60–75 mm per month and 10–12 wet days monthly.
Spring (March–May) brings gradual warming, with highs rising from 8°C in March to 18°C by May. Sunshine increases to 6–7 hours per day by late spring, and parks bloom with greenery. Rainfall remains moderate, with April being the driest month (40–53 mm). Summers (June–August) are mild to pleasantly warm, with average highs of 20–24°C and lows around 12–14°C. July and August are the warmest and wettest months, with 75–89 mm of rain and 11–12 wet days monthly, but showers are usually brief. Sunshine peaks at 7–8 hours per day, and daylight lasts up to 17 hours in midsummer. Autumn (September–November) is mild to cool, with highs dropping from 19°C in September to 8°C in November. Rain and wind increase, and fog is frequent. Annual precipitation averages 775–820 mm, with about 150 rainy days per year. Humidity is high year-round (69–89%), and winds are moderate to strong, especially in winter and autumn.
| Average climate data for Hamburg, Germany | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average maximum temperature (°C) | 3 | 4 | 8 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 13 | 8 | 4 | 22 |
| Average minimum temperature (°C) | -0 | -0 | 2 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 1 | -0 |
| Average precipitation (mm) | 43 | 39 | 32 | 22 | 38 | 47 | 49 | 42 | 32 | 37 | 35 | 43 | 460 |
| Average rainfall days (days) | 14 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 187 |
| Average snowfall (mm) | 31 | 38 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 34 | 123 |
| Average snowfall days (days) | 7 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 21 |
| Average relative humidity (%) | 90 | 86 | 80 | 76 | 79 | 80 | 79 | 77 | 82 | 86 | 90 | 90 | 83 |
| Average wind speed (km/h) | 17 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 14 |
| Average daily daylight hours (h) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 15 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 12 |
| Average daily sunshine hours (h) | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 6 |
| Average cloud coverage (%) | 68 | 66 | 57 | 42 | 49 | 47 | 46 | 42 | 49 | 57 | 63 | 72 | 55 |
| Average UV index | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
The best time to visit Hamburg is from May to September, when temperatures are mild to warm (15–24°C), daylight is long, and the city is lively with festivals and outdoor events. Spring and early autumn also offer pleasant weather, blooming parks, and fewer crowds, making them ideal for sightseeing and enjoying Hamburg’s green spaces and waterfront.
The least favourable time to visit is from November to February, when Hamburg is coldest, daylight hours are shortest, and rain, fog, and dampness are most frequent. While winter brings festive Christmas markets, outdoor activities can be limited by chilly, wet, and unpredictable weather, and strong winds make the cold feel sharper.
Hamburg has a temperate oceanic climate with mild to warm summers and cool, damp winters. Rain falls throughout the year, with the wettest months in summer. Frequent clouds, high humidity, and brisk winds are typical.
Summer temperatures in Hamburg typically reach 20–24°C, but heatwaves can push highs above 28°C. Nights are mild, and rain showers or thunderstorms are common, especially in July and August.
Snow is rare in Hamburg and usually light, occurring mainly from December to February. Most winter precipitation falls as rain or drizzle, and snow cover is typically minimal and short-lived.
Rain falls year-round, but July and August are usually the wettest months. Showers and thunderstorms are frequent in summer, while spring and autumn see moderate rainfall spread over many days.
Hamburg enjoys about 1,500–1,600 hours of sunshine annually. May to August are the sunniest months, with up to 7–8 hours of sunshine per day, while winter months average just 1–2 hours daily.
Bring layers, a waterproof jacket, and water-resistant shoes. Even in summer, pack a jumper or light jacket for cool evenings. An umbrella is essential for sudden showers in any season.
Winds are moderate to strong, especially from November to March. Humidity is high year-round, making cold feel sharper in winter and warm spells muggy in summer. Fog is common in autumn and winter.
The warmest month, with the highest average maximum temperature, is August (22.5 °C). The month with the lowest average maximum temperature is January (2.9 °C). Overall, the average maximum temperature over the whole year is 12.9 °C.
The month with the highest average minimum temperature is August (13.6 °C). The coldest month, with the lowest average minimum temperature, is February (-0.5 °C). Overall, the average minimum temperature over the whole year is 6 °C.
The wettest month, with the highest amount of precipitation, is July (49.2 mm). The driest month, with the least amount of precipitation, is April (22.2 mm). Over the whole year there are 460.3 mm of rainfall on average.
The month with the most days of rain is July (19.2 days). The month with the fewest days of rain is February (11.8 days). Over the whole year there are 187.5 days of rain on average.
The month with the most snowfall is February (37.8 mm). The months with the least snowfall are May, June, July, August, September and October (0 mm). Over the whole year there are 123 mm of snowfall on average.
The month with the most days of snowfall is January (6.5 days). The months with the fewest days of snowfall are May, August and September (0 days). Over the whole year there are 21.2 days of snowfall on average.
The month with the highest average relative humidity is December (90 %). The month with the lowest average relative humidity is April (75.9 %). The overall average relative humidity over the whole year is 82.8 %.
The windiest month, with the highest average wind speed, is December (17.2 km/h). The calmest month, with the lowest average wind speed, is August (11.6 km/h). The overall average wind speed over the whole year is 14.2 km/h.
The month with the cloudiest skies, so the highest cloud coverage, is December (72.1 %). The month with the clearest skies, so the lowest cloud coverage, is April (41.6 %). Over the whole year there is an average cloud coverage of 54.6 %.
The month with the longest days, so the most daylight, is June (Average daylight: 17 h). The month with the shortest days, so the least daylight, is December (Average daylight: 7.1 h). Over the whole year there are 11.8 h of daylight per day on average.
The month with the most sunshine per day is August (Average sunshine: 9 h). The month with the least sunshine per day is January (Average sunshine: 2.9 h). Over the whole year there are 5.8 h of sunlight per day on average.
The month with the highest average UV index is July (UV index: 5). The month with the lowest average UV index is January (UV index: 1). Over the whole year the average UV index is 3.
